LAW5381 - Human rights advocacy: Australian law and practice - 2019

The 2006 enactment of the Victorian Charter of Rights and Responsibilities means that legal practitioners and students need to consider the impact of the Charter on litigation in a range of areas. This unit covers the sources of human rights and the role of international law in Australian law, specific Australian human rights statutes including the new Victorian Charter, international remedies of relevance to Australia, and comparative human rights laws. The unit will also cover the practical application of rights, including appropriate advocacy and research techniques on how to develop human rights arguments. Students will be taught how to advocate Victorian Charter issues effectively.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in relation to human rights issues as they arise in a legal dispute with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning
• Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to relevant human rights jurisprudence from comparable domestic legal system such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the UK to apply in the Australian context
• Conduct research in the operation of human rights law in a practical setting based on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods
• Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to human rights law

Moot consisting of a written submission of 4,500 words: 60%

A 20 minute oral submission:40%

OR

Written assignment of 7,500 words (100%)

24 contact hours per teaching period (either intensive, semi-intensive or semester long, depending on the Faculty resources, timetabling and requirements).